As lockdown restrictions eased around the world, cities were rediscovered reshaped in favour of cyclists and pedestrians. In the UK, a £2 billion package was announced in May of 2020 to put cycling and walking at the heart of the transport policy. It resulted in thousands of miles of bike lanes being extended or widened, and whole sections of residential city streets closed to traffic.
bike boom
In London the expectation of a ten-fold rise in the number of cyclists came as early as April of the same year, as independent bike shops and chain stores across Britain that had been allowed to remain open as essential services during lockdown reported double or sometimes triple the demand. Brompton, which makes the famous folding bike, reported five times more orders than before.
accelerating trend
For decades, the UK authorities have pledged to implement large-scale projects dedicated to cycling and walking. In the capital, a congestion charge was introduced in 2003 that made it no longer possible to drive for free through the centre. The city already has an expanding cycle network system known as Cycleways, and businesses across the country take advantage of a ‘cycle to work’ scheme that allows employers to loan bikes and helmets to employees as a tax-free benefit.
TOXIC CYCLE
Before the pandemic hit, there was progress – but there were challenges. Only 1.9 per cent of people biked to work. Commuters have complained of long distances, and that they needed cars to stock up on goods from distant superstores. Electric cars are expensive, and this has resulted in a toxic cycle, where fumes put off potential cyclists who then use their own cars instead.
NEW KIND OF RIDER
Bike sellers have reported a progressive reversal to trends; some seven out of ten buyers are new or returning cyclists, they say. There are many more women and younger riders, and most adults are looking for practical, economical bikes. For those with low incomes, a system of vouchers began to be dedicated to cycle repairs, making unused bicycles roadworthy again.
LONGER AND WIDER
Owing to social distancing measures, public transport had to limit capacity. If people took to their cars again, it could have ended in gridlock. During lockdown, empty streets saw authorities fast-tracking cycling projects. The London mayor Sadiq Khan unveiled one of the most ambitious in the world, closing off large parts of central London to all motor vehicles except buses, and expanding existent paths, through London’s parks for example, to allow for safe distancing.
E-BIKES
Thanks to technological advances, electric bikes are also increasingly popular, particularly with older cyclists. Better for longer distances and hilly landscapes in cities and rural areas, they are now the bikes of choice in the Netherlands, a country famous for its predilection for cycling.
THE GREEN FUTURE
The big question is, of course, what will be the lasting impact? Many of these mobility measures were temporary ones. Yet as riders felt the health and economic benefits of two-wheel travel, and work places facilitated services aimed at cycling employees, we could experience a stunning reversal of trends in the design of our urban areas. Local businesses could move back in, and green spaces and communal zones could reclaim the ridiculous amount of space we currently dedicate to parking.
OTHER CITIES
Birmingham, Bristol and Liverpool are among the UK cities that have already invested hundreds of millions of pounds to separate cycling routes from car traffic and introduce traffic-free school streets. Manchester introduced an emergency £5m cash injection to boost cycle-friendly routes, and a section of its city centre is now car-free. After an applauded project that saw Scottish bicycle recycling charity The Bike Station offer free bikes to health staff and other key workers during the coronavirus crisis, the Scottish government announced £10 million to free up more road space for temporary ‘pop-up’ cycling lanes.